#MeToo stings VS Ugrappa: He did not help my harassed daughter'

Bengaluru: Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa, who is contesting the Ballari Lok Sabha bypoll, has been accused by a woman of advising her to withdraw a complaint against her relative for sexually abusing her daughter, when he was chairman of the expert committee on preventing sexual violence against women and children.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, the woman, Mamatha Singh, said her daughter was sexually abused by a close relative for over a year in 2015 and when she came to know of it a family friend advised her to meet Mr Ugrappa, the then chairman of expert committee. 

When she met him in 2016 and explained her case, he gave a patient hearing and directed the concerned DCP Boralingaiah to look into it. He also promised do everything possible to ensure justice for her daughter,  but when she met  him a year later,  he claimed he was helpless in the matter as there was “pressure from the high command” and advised her to withdraw her complaint for her own safety, she alleged.  Mr Ugrappa also warned her of possible trouble from the accused, who belonged to Bihar, once he came out of jail on bail, the woman claimed she, however, decided to proceed with the legal battle. 

“When Ugrappa has behaved in this manner, what moral right does he have to seek votes from the people of Ballari? Person of his character are not fit to become elected representatives. I am a cancer survivor and had hoped to get justice from him as he is a Congress MLC, but I am still waiting for it till this day,” she rued.